Sen. Duckworth Criticizes Trump’s Defense Secretary Pick as ‘Dangerously Unqualified’

Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), a decorated combat veteran and member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, has sharply criticized President-elect Donald Trump‘s nominee for Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, calling him ‘dangerously unqualified’ for the role. Duckworth made the remarks during a press call on Friday, just days before Hegseth’s scheduled Senate confirmation hearing on Tuesday.

‘The manager of the average Applebee's has probably managed more people than Pete Hegseth,’ Duckworth said, highlighting her concerns about Hegseth’s lack of experience managing large organizations. She argued that leading the Department of Defense, which oversees nearly 3 million troops and civilian employees and a budget exceeding $830 billion, requires significant managerial expertise.

Duckworth emphasized that her objections are not politically motivated but stem from national security concerns. ‘Being secretary of Defense is a very serious job, and putting someone as dangerously unqualified as Mr. Hegseth into that role is something that should scare all of us,’ she told reporters.

Hegseth, a former Fox News contributor and CEO of Concerned Veterans for America (CVA), has faced scrutiny over his management of the veterans’ advocacy group and a 2017 sexual assault allegation, which he has denied. Duckworth expressed frustration that rank-and-file Democrats on the Armed Services Committee may not have access to the FBI‘s background investigation before the hearing. ‘I have many questions for him, more questions than I can fit into the mere seven minutes each senator will be given during the hearing,’ she said.

Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader John Thune has privately assured Trump that Hegseth will likely have the votes needed for confirmation, according to sources. However, Democrats have raised concerns about the nominee’s qualifications and past controversies, potentially complicating the confirmation process.

Hegseth’s hearing is set for January 14, with other key national security nominations also scheduled for confirmation hearings in the days leading up to Trump’s inauguration on January 20. The outcome of these hearings could shape the early days of the new administration.